The East Coast road can be celebrated as a city entertainment corridor, but driving in the stretch between Kanathur and Mamallapuram is a nightmare.
The absence of street lights, the free threat of livestock and vehicles that came to the wrong direction had made a 29-km stretch of vulnerable to accidents in the stretch of Muttukadu to Mamallapuram has increased between 2020 and 2021, the majority of them after dusk.
Beautiful tollway does not have service paths or even sidewalks for pedestrians.
With the majority of stretching from Uthandi Toll Plaza does not have street lights, free livestock does not look until the last minute.
Most posts existing lights are turned off, with red reflectors that are inserted on them.
In addition, barricades around construction work related to placing pipes from desalination plants in nemmeli are only seen at close range.
The entry of vehicles from several roads to the route is another problem.
This is very contrasting by stretching from Thiruvanmiyur to Kanathur, the premed portion of the toll on both sides.
Police data showed that the number of accidents on the stretch of muttukadumamallapuram rose 24 between 2020 and 2021, with seven deaths last year.
Maintained by Tamil Nadu Nadu Development Company (TNRDC), the road has an average movement of 10,000-12,000 vehicles during business days and 18,000-20,000 vehicles on weekends at Uthandi Toll Plaza.
From this, 30% -40% travel at night.
Nikhil Indrasenan Muttukadu said turning off the street lights after a certain time had made a stretch of tourist nightmares after the toll road, especially from Kanathur.
“We can expect anyone to cross from the streets of the interior, end up by accident, damage to vehicles or worse,” he said.
M Sivakumar from Neelankarai, who went between Chidambaram and Chennai at ECR regularly, said the barricade at a frequent interval.
“You pay attention to them without reflector only when you come very close.
It is very difficult to reduce speed and negotiate a turn in such a situation even if the vehicle drives at the speed of 80kmph which is permitted,” he said.
Chengalpet a R Rahul Nadh collector said the highway department was asked to repair a dead street light.
“Every local body has been instructed to collect a fine of 2,000 per head of livestock released on the road.”